Chrysotile Asbestos in the Lungs of Persons in New York City

Abstract

When inhaled, chrysotile tends to split into unit fibrils 200 to 400 Angstroms in diameter, invisible with optical microscopy. Further, it is altered chemically and physically in vivo. Therefore, attempts to identify unaltered chrysotile in the core of “asbestos bodies” have many pitfalls, especially when such attempts are limited by optical microscopy. High-magnification electron-microscopic examination of representative small samples of lung unequivocally showed chrysotile asbestos to be present in 24 of 28 consecutive New York city autopsy cases. Our data demonstrate that chrysotile fibers and fibrils are present in the lungs of New York city residents. Similar observations have been made in London. We anticipate that what is now known for New York and London will be found in other cities as well.